Principal / Vice Principal’s Message

We hope you’ll join us on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at GV to “meet the teacher“. This will be an informal opportunity to tour your child’s classroom, meet the teacher and way hello to other GV staff. If you have specific questions about your child’s progress, please make plans to talk further in a private meeting with the teacher.

Please be sure to advise the School Office if your child will be absent due to vacation. Note that if your child will be absent for more than 10 school days, a form must be filled out at the office. The school can not guarantee a placement for your child upon returning, if they are absent for more than 25 consecutive school days.​

This year, our school is near capacity and we have many classes and grade levels which are full. Families should check with Mr. Dekerf prior to booking extended vacations which are more that 25 days.

Please join us on Tuesday, Oct. 3 @ 8:45 a.m. for our PAC Meeting. The meeting will include a special presentation from our new Safe and Active Schools Program

School Travel Planning

In STP, we work directly with specific schools to increase the number of students walking and cycling to school. Together, we run educational campaigns and contests to promote active travel. Our School Travel Planning Handbook and Resource Guide outlines the STP process and timeline. It’s a great resource for STP schools or those interested in the program

Each year, we work with several schools. We have worked with 23 schools so far. In the 2015/2016 school year we’re partnering with three schools in South Surrey.

The project will expand to more schools in Surrey over the coming years. So far, we’ve increased the number of children walking to an individual school by up to 27%.

Surrey parents reflect on School Travel Planning:

“My children enjoy walking to school; even in the rain they put their rain boots on and take an umbrella.”

“It’s better to walk than drive because there are not enough places to park the cars near the school.”

“Thank you for everything. There have been great changes to our school to increase student safety and community.”

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’ story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.

The date was chosen because it is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and because it is an opportunity to set the stage for anti-racism and anti-bullying policies for the coming school year. It also gives teachers time to plan events that will include children, as we want to ensure that we are passing the story and learning on to the next generations.

Orange Shirt Day is also an opportunity for First Nations, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.

At GV we honoured Orange Shirt Day on Friday and learned more about how Every Child Matters.

Pics From The Week

learning with math materials

learning in small groups

Diwali meeting

photo day is coming!

bucket drumming in music class

Diwali plans at GV

Learning Commons

For information on activities, projects and news from the Vanier Learning Commons click here.